Limburg e-commerce specialist BME accelerates growth and raises half a million euros

To support its rapid growth, BME - a total e-commerce services provider - closed a second round of financing in May 2016 with which the company is raising an additional 300,000 euros. A capital injection of 225,000 euros already came last year, combined with a KlimOp Loan of 125,000 euros through the Limburg investment company LRM.

In this second round of investment, existing shareholders are strengthening their structure by 100,000 euros. The Limburg investment company LRM is also providing an additional 100,000 euros with a new KlimOp loan. All this is co-supported by KBC Bank, which in turn is also providing 100,000 euros of additional operating funds.

Exponential growth

The Genk-based company guides e-entrepreneurs through the entire process; from website and webshop development to logistics outsourcing. BME's increasing success proves that e-commerce in Belgium absolutely exists and is based on three important values: (1) a high level of service, (2) thorough process optimization and (3) continuous investment in Research & Development ("R&D"). Crucial to that story is that BME is always looking for innovation in order to bring a unique offering to the market.

Chris Pietermans, co-founder of BME: "Of course there are a number of obstacles for e-commerce companies in Belgium. Nevertheless, with BME, we more than double our business every year. And in all likelihood, we are sending more than 4 times as many packages this year as in 2015." The Genk-based company is strategically deploying resources to cope with exponential growth without sacrificing service. "This is why we are not ruling out additional capital reinforcements. We want to fulfill our ambitions and remain a strong player in this market."

Innovation and optimization

Founder and co-founder Daniel Ciccodemarco explains why R&D is so important. "Our customers are large and medium-sized companies that operate one or more online shops. We handle the complete outsourcing of their logistics operations to our platform. Specifically, this includes, for example, the inbound and storage of goods, preparing and shipping orders, managing returns, and advanced IT integration with the customer's web shop. Automation is of great importance here."

"But for us, automation does not equal standardization," Ciccodemarco continues. "Each of our customers' e-commerce projects is specific, which requires flexible customization. The new warehousing technology we are now investing in is unique and allows us to centrally manage all specific customer preferences. This allows us to focus even better on service delivery."

Working legend Made in Belgium

"BME has brought jobs and innovation to the Genk region," Pietermans continued. "In one year, we have grown from two to 14 employees. We expect the number of employees to increase significantly over the next five years."

In this regard, a thorough cooperation with the VDAB is essential, both in terms of training and recruitment. The City of Genk is also an accelerator in the BME story. The regulations concerning recruitment bonuses and the reduction in property tax are important assets for creating sustainable employment at a time when the company is in full expansion.

So the city of Genk is an entrepreneurial city and thinks along with its entrepreneurs. The city government wants to guide new companies as well as possible, together with its partners LRM, Locate in Limburg, Agentschap Ondernemen and FIT.

Wim Dries, Genk's mayor: "Our support measures contribute to an attractive business climate and often provide that extra backing. The company BME combines two Genk assets: the belief in future-oriented economic developments such as e-commerce, and the further expansion of Genk as a logistics gateway. We are therefore enormously pleased to have a young growth company like BME in the Genk region."

Jo De Cock, the director of VDAB Limburg, also sees a bright future for the young company: "We got to work fairly quickly to support these young entrepreneurs in their search for suitable personnel. VDAB was able to make full use of its strengths at BME. On the one hand, offering an answer to their specific needs. And on the other hand strengthen competencies of new employees through various on-the-job training formulas. A successful challenge!"

About BME

BME acts as a 'one stop shop' outsourcing platform for companies wishing to set up or further professionalize an e-commerce activity. At its headquarters in Genk, BME has both an IT department that ensures the integration of webshops and warehousing technology, and a logistics department that handles the inbound, storage and transport of e-commerce orders from its own warehouses. Organizations and companies such as Sanoma, Greenpeace, PharmaMore and Baobab have already found their way to BME.